Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-07-16

got the water in precisely the same way is Is
sessed nothing?
TWO OR MORE HOUSES SUPPLIED WITH ONE TAP.
Another set OF annoying notices are being sent
out commanding citizens who by Q contract with
the corporation. have been allowed to connect two
or more houses with the same pipe, TO disconnect
on pain OF having the water cut of. I always
thought such contracts unw1se, as they some
| times cause much trouble and annOya nce, but
when such contract is once entered into It can
not be set aside by the party of the first part
| wfthoutthe consent OF the party Of the second
part.
lderstand the water Office is refusing to &C
cept water rents from parties against whom they
they refuse to accept water rents when rendered?
IL seems TO lOokef-On as II they are assuming O
take money legally rendered.
ANOTHER VIOLATION OF LAW CHARGED.
| The law which stands to-day unrepealed requires
the head Of the water office to make out and de-
liver all bills for the use OF the water" This has
always been construed to mean that the bills must
De es at s9 1e houses against which they are made
rent bills through the post-of1ce, which he con-
sidered the better way. Capt. Symons has issued
water-takers to report to "these headquarters"
and pay their bills inside OF thirty days on pain Of
their Mater turned n on
be open at all times for the inspection OF the peo-
pie that own them. Let any citizen go there and
ask to examine the books ana see what kind OF a
reception he will get.
NO NECESSITY TO RAISE WATER RENTS.
When the water rents were raised in 1880 we
were told that the Increased rates would be only
temporary, and that they would soon be put back.
Water Registrar Cox, In his report for the year
ending June 80, 1880. said: ''rhe department is
gradually getting out OF debt, and think in two
or three years will be entirely free. When
the delinquent Waterman taxes arp all paid,
which Is only question OF short time. 1 feel
confident that the department will then be I'm a
condition to reduce the water rents. Seven years
have passed away since these words were pub
lished, during which time 10 900 new water takers
have been added to the subscription book, bring
ing In an additional yearly revenue Of OOO and
1900 per year more for taps and permits. The
price OF pipe has gone down so low that 6-inch
mains can now be laid on both side Of the street
and pay prOdt On an assessment OF ~ cents per
square foot, OF 80 per cent on the investment In
stead or having reduction OF rates was promised
by Mr.. COX. we are called upon to pay an increase
In our water rents, in some cases Of over 100 per
cent, and are notified by the gentlemen in charge
OF the water Office that the Waterman tax is TO
be increased to ~ cents per square loot or nearly
higher than 1t Is now.
The requiring Of thirty thousand water-takers to
pay their bills inside OF twenty-SiX working days
Is an abSurdity. 1t cannot be done with any force
that can work with advantage In the District
buildings. 1t Is an average Of over one thousand
per day, about one for every twenty-five seconds
limit OF thirty days was fixed when the water ONCE
was first opened, the authorities suppOSing their
successors would have sense enough to increased
the time as the number OF water-takerS increase.
The limit for paying water rents should be ex-
tended from thirty to ninety days in order to give
proper time to collect them.
1t will he observed that My questions still stand
VIII Mr. Bond please inform us how it happens
If he could lay six-nch water main when pipe
was $78 per ton, on an assessment OF seven-eigbthS
Of a cent per square foot, the same pipe cannot
be laid with pipe $50 per ton, an assessment Of
! x cents per square foot. j, IL. CRANE.